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Re: Gouged, shaped and folded.

Author: d-oboe
Date: 2006-02-09 00:40

One reed a week is my minimum. In the usual run of things, I'll make two (say on Sunday and Wednesday) I was simply using that to illustrate my point that: yes it's important to practice reedmaking, but not to the point where it cuts into practice time, or homework time. I know a few professionals who use 3 reeds a month. They might make 8 reeds when they have a spare weekend, and then make one per 10 days after that. Well made reeds last longer than 10 days!
(I really can't preach this enough - it's SO important to learn to play on any type of reed, more than it is to make a perfect reed)

One thing I didn't mention was that I make reeds in stages - (maybe this will lift any clouds of confusion). All the reeds that I haven't scraped into commission yet, *do* actually vibrate to an extent. I might have, say, the 2 finished reeds per week, plus about 8 blanks that are partially scraped, open, and are starting to vibrate. So in reality, "scraping a reed in" takes about FIVE minutes!!! I find this very useful in case reeds take a turn for the worse (if someone knocks your reed case over at the dress reh.....it's happened to me!!1) I know that I'm only 5 minutes away from a fresh reed. Not a gouge, shape, tie, scrrrrrape, clip, scrape, scrape, scrape away from a reed!!

I agree with you both in that college majors should get into a consistent reed-making habit. It's important to make as many as you need to to feel comfortable. However, I believe quality is better than quantity. If one can truly make 5 good reeds per day, in less than an hour (which is the max that someone should be sitting down at one time anyways) then go for it. Personally I would rather have one or two slowly and calmly erected reeds, than 1000 hurriedly made reeds.
Personal opinion! :P

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Gouged, shaped and folded. new

mschmidt

2006-01-31 18:59